If, like me, you love Italian espresso coffee, then ordering a coffee couldn’t be easier. “Un caffè, per favore?” Job done. But if you’re from the other side of the Big Pond, and you’re expecting your usual pint of black, coffee-flavoured water, hotter than the surface of the sun, then you might start to get a …

For those of you keen to get away from the more touristy spots, Radda in Chianti should definitely be on your list. It has a really lovely _lived-in_ feel to it, and that’s probably because a lot of local people do live there, so it’s not just for tourists. Yet despite this, it is well-stocked …

Plan the perfect trip to Italy – Part 3 Now, I bet you’re thinking, “Ah-ha, this is where he starts plugging rural Tuscan villa rentals.” Well, you’d be right. But you’d be wrong too. Because, as a villa rental owner in Tuscany, the one important lesson we’ve learned over the last few years is, never …

If you are coming to Tuscany for your vacation, and you’re looking through the guide books, you’ll see a great deal written about famous butchers in Chianti. Yes, some will even sing and recite Dante. Smashing. But for me, the last thing I need is a my butcher singing at me. Really. What I really …